Here you will find links and other relevant resources to supplement the information provided in each of the chapters. We hope that the sources will provide background to the discussion of issues in the text. We have also included links to a large number of terms referred to in the text from Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan published by the University of Regina Press along with maps from the Historical Atlas of Saskatchewan published by the University of Saskatchewan.
Church Missionary Society-Missionaries
David Thompson
Department of Indian Affairs RG10
Federal Government
Hudson's Bay Company Archives
North West Mounted Police
Political Papers Library and Archives Canada
Regional Outlines
Saskatchewan Archives Board
Saskatchewan Herald Newspaper
Church Missionary Society (CMS) - Missionaries
Through much of the 19th century, Christian Missionaries worked in the West and wrote about their experiences and social conditions in the Indigenous communities. Although their intention was to change the nature of Indigenous societies, many of the documents show genuine concern for the health and well-being for the people of the West. The Church Missionary Society, a branch of the Anglican church, operated through much of the West and the records presented in this section were produced during this time.
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David Thompson
David Thompson was one of the most significant surveyor/map-maker of the Fur Trade period. His travels through the West and his reporting of it can be found in this section.
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Department of Indian Affairs (DIA) RG10
Since the time of Canada’s acquisition of the West, the Department of Indian Affairs has been the most important institution in the lives of First Nations people. While many files of the Department of Indian Affairs can be found in this section, many more can be found through Library and Archives Canada.
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Federal Government
This section contains records from Federal Government departments other than the Department of Indian Affairs and Northwest Mounted Police. They include documents from the Department of National Health and Welfare and other departments. Some of the records included are dated as early as late 1960’s.
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Hudson's Bay Company Archives
Records of the Hudson Bay Company comprise perhaps the single largest collection of documentary evidence on the history of western and northern Canada to 1870. Included in this section are a number of trading post journals from across the west from the late 18th through the mid-19th century.
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North West Mounted Police (NWMP)
Records of the Northwest Mounted Police provide insights into changing social and health conditions in the years up to and after Treaty. Physicians attached to the force were among the first western medical practitioners in the region. Included in this section, is a compilation of aboriginal issues found in Northwest Mounted Police documents completed by Peter Nayler.
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Political Papers and Library and Archives Canada (LAC)
This section contains correspondence and other records of political officials involved in Canadian Indian policy. It includes the records of Prime Ministers and senior bureaucrats involved in indigenous issues. Also included are a number of finding aids from Library and Archives Canada to assist with further research.
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Regional Outlines
This section is made up of chronologically organized point form notes intended to provide a background on the study of regional conditions. These notes may serve as the basis for further research.
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Saskatchewan Archives Board (SAB)
This section includes documents contained at the Saskatchewan Archives Board. They include records from various collections dealing with the health and wellbeing of First Nations people primarily from the early 20th century. A major component of this section focuses on the research and career of Dr. R. G. Ferguson, a pioneer in the treatment of tuberculosis. These include documents from his National Research Council investigations into the BCG (Bacille Calmette Guerin) anti-tuberculosis vaccine in the 1930s.
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Saskatchewan Herald Newspaper
The Saskatchewan Herald newspaper published in Battleford provides important insights into the changing conditions of First Nations communities on the Northern Plains in the immediate post-Treaty period. While many of the opinions expressed by P.G. Laurie, the editor, reflect the racist views of the early settler population, The Herald provides a week-by-week account of events in the region. Included in this section are transcriptions between the papers establishment in 1878 and 1887. PDF Scans of significant dates and statements are included.